Tag Archives: buddhism

Footage of me at the Birthplace of Buddhism in India

by • on March 31, 2011 • in Buddhism

I really am terrible when someone sticks a camera in my face and tells me to talk, but I still made it on a video podcast.

This footage is of some of the most heartbreaking things I have ever witnessed in my life.

  • 0:33 – Bro. Gardner trying to get a taxi driver (who spoke english) to even recognize the name Jesus.
  • 1:02 – Me talking in front of the pilgrimage site, and place where Buddha preached his first sermon in India and started making disciples.
  • 1:38 – A (really hard to read!) plaque commemorating a Buddhist evangelist who wanted to give 25 lifetimes spreading Buddhism all over the world.
    • (It was really hard to read because the text had foreign languages in it, the small font, and the lines of text were like 4ft long, so at the end of every line you had to hunt what line you were supposed to read next. This is live footage of my first attempt.)
  • 4:40 – Our ministry video

 


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John 3:16 from a Thai Buddhist Worldview – Total Opposite!

by • on January 4, 2011 • in Asia, Buddhism, Uncategorized

A missionary friend of mine explains how a Thai person would interpret the most basic and clear verses to the western mind. There are many difficulties and misunderstandings to overcome in order for someone to simply understand the Gospel, much less believe it!

Here is the most famous verse in the Bible broken down through the viewpoint of a Buddhist.

“For God” – When one talks about God, the computer screen of Western Christian’s minds automatically bring up his description. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, Omni-present, full of love, compassion, gracious, merciful, holy, etc. But to the Thai Buddhist mind, when God is mentioned, there is nothing that comes up on the computer screen of their mind, because in Buddhism, there is no God. As chapter 2 of this dissertation stated, it is quite possible that Thai Buddhists would interpret the “God” concept in light of their worldview which would cause them to interpret the Christian’s God as either cruel or stupid.

“so loved the world” – Love implies attachment; you love something or someone. According to the Four Noble Truths, attachment to things causes sin. The Thai Buddhist religion teaches them to “detach” from everything in order to enter Nirvana. So “whoever” this God is, to the Thai, he is full of unholy passion, because he loves and therefore, is a “sinner”.

“that he gave his only begotten son,” – There are three problems associated with this phrase. First, there is the problem of dealing with the pre-existence of Jesus Christ. Second, the Thai Buddhist does not believe in killing anything, so whoever this God is, he evidently is so attached to the world that he is willing to kill his own son for it. Therefore, he is a great sinner and not someone to be honored. Third, Jesus died such a violent death, that their Buddhist mentality tells them that Jesus was also a terrible person in a previous life to suffer such a horrible death.

“that whosoever believeth in him” – The Thai Buddhist is taught from day one to depend only on himself. He can only gain merit for himself. So the concept of trusting or depending on someone else for their salvation is a foreign concept.

“should not perish” – The Thai person uses the statement “perishing from this world” when they speak about breaking the cycle of reincarnation and entering Nirvana. So, if one believes on Jesus Christ, then according to their worldview, they will never get an opportunity to go to heaven.

“but have everlasting life” – Thai people believe they already have everlasting life, being caught in the cycle of reincarnation. They’ve already had thousands of lives and are trying to escape “everlasting life”. So if one believes on Jesus Christ, then according to their worldview, they will be caught in the cycle of reincarnation forever.

The people at Aloha Ke Akua Ministries summed up how a Thai Buddhist would interpret John 3:16.

Therefore, to a person with a Thai Buddhist world-view, this scripture says that this cruel or stupid Western God lusts after the world so much that he commits a sin by sacrificing his only son so that we will be caught in the Wheel of suffering, death and rebirth forever and never go to heaven.

 


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Some interesting things I’m learning about Buddhism and Thailand

by • on December 26, 2010 • in Asia, Buddhism

Some interesting things I’m learning about Buddhism in Thailand:

  • Monks are not ordained for life.
  • Many times they will do it just for the rainy season
  • If they remain past that, it is usually from 1-3 years.
  • Thai are from the most conservative and fundamental school of the 3 branches of Buddhism - the Theravada school
  • It became the state religion in the 13th century, but isnt any more
  • The king of Thailand is considered to be the protector of the religion
  • Buddhism in Thailand is not pure Buddhism, it is very mixed with
  • 3 major influences of Thai Buddhism are:
    • Traditional conservative Buddhism
    • Hindu beliefs
    • Folk religion – appeasing local spirits
  • Monks get free public transportation, special seating sections
  • They can’t hold office or vote while a monk
  • Monks begin their training when they are 8 in a temple school
  • This is where most of Thailand learns to read and write
  • These schools were the main education up until the last 50 years or so when the government began to provide education.
  • Women can’t be monks
  • Impersonating a monk is illegal.

 

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The Folly of Idolatry

by • on December 20, 2010 • in Asia

When God talks of idolatry, he kinda makes fun of it.  Like he can’t just let it pass without making snide remarks about its foolishness! Not to mention that He used the first 2 of the 10 commandments to speak on the subject. He is preeeetty harsh against idols.

But we kinda like our idols, so here is a reminder about how ridiculous we are.

Here is what He says in Is 44:9-ff

Ridiculing Idol makers:

  • They are vanity (all of them) (9)
  • The things they like are unprofitable (9)
  • It’s obvious that they have no perception or understanding (9)
  • He embarrasses his friends (11)

Mocking idol making:

  • Takes a lot of work to make a god. (12)
  • Even the creator gets tired, hungry, and faint – and you look to it for sustenance, strength and protection? (12)
  • A god needs to be created? (12)
  • By a blacksmith?
  • Or carpenter?
  • The carpenter might be good at what he does, but its just wood, you know.
  • Fancy wood or metal is still just wood and metal.
  • Where did that wood come from anyway?
  • Is something that can be burned up cooking worthy to be worshipped?

Idolatry:

  • Falling down before a creation (15)
  • Worshipping before an idol (16)
  • Asking for deliverance from an image (17)
  • Declaring allegiance to another god (17)
  • Proclaiming a god to be God  (17)

Why in the world do we worship idols?

  • Blinded eyes
  • No understanding
  • No discernment
  • Not taking time to consider the foolishness
  • A deceived heart

The gospel is the only answer to idolatry.  It is the light in the darkness.  It gives understanding and discernment. It makes dead people live and turn from idols to serve the living God.

But it must be shined unto them.


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Buddhist Sin-Releasing Ceremony in Thailand

by • on December 17, 2010 • in Asia, Buddhism

If you have seen our video, you probably wondered what all the fireworks, celebration, and lanterns had to do with anything.  This is a yearly Buddhist ceremony, known as Yi Peng, where thousands will gather together to light these lanterns that will fly away into the air, to make merit, and to let go of all their anger, grudges and “defilements”. 

Below is the testimony of a woman as she lights these lanterns in hopes that it will be enough merit for the sin that she has built up over the past year.


A family releases their mulberry-paper lantern during the Yi Peng festival in northern Thailand. Buddhists launch these hot air balloons once year in a belief that they are releasing their sins. As the balloons float up, they wish for good luck for the next year.

Thai college students fluff out their khom fai, or paper lantern. The hot air balloon fills with gas from a fuel cell and then is released. During the northern Thai festival called Yi Peng, Buddhists believe they are releasing their sins.  Photo by Sue Sprenkle.
Khom fai, mulberry-paper lanterns, stand straight up and are almost ready for launch. Thousands are released at once during a Buddhist Yi Peng ceremony in northern Thailand.  Photo by Sue Sprenkle.
Thai Buddhist hold their paper lantern as it fills with hot air. Thousands are released at one time during the northern Thai festival known as Yi Pend. Once a year, Buddhists believe they are releasing their sins through these hot air balloons.  Photo by Sue Sprenkle.

 

As the lanterns float up, they wish for good luck for the next year, believing their sins float away with the lanterns.

THAILAND (BP)–I’m surrounded by thousands of suspended paper lanterns that look like glowing jellyfish in a black ocean. I reach out and touch one. It bounces off me, awaiting its ascent heavenward. 

Fireworks explode overhead. Green, red and blue sparklers provide a magical backdrop as the golden dots begin to float into the distance.

 

It’s easy to get swept up in the magic and beauty of the moment, forgetting the real meaning — releasing one’s sin — behind this northern Thai festival called Yi Peng.

 

This is my first Buddhist ceremony, even though I’ve traveled around the world writing stories about different cultures for years. I never knew releasing sin could seem so beautiful and awe-inspiring.

 

A Thai woman standing next to me, Som Mookjai, says this is the one time of year she feels light and beautiful from the inside out. The 48-year-old mother of two has been practicing Buddhism her entire life and never misses this November full-moon ceremony. She literally counts down the months, and then days, until she can release her sins through these traditional lanterns.

 

Mookjai spends most of the year making merit, or doing good works, for her various sins and wrongdoings. She takes food to the monks, but feeding the orphans is where she finds the most joy.

 

“You can never do enough merit,” Mookjai says as she picks up a lantern for herself and one for me.

 

I thank her for the gift and explain that I don’t need it. My God already sacrificed for my sins. She nods, not really interested, and continues with the task at hand — preparing the lantern for launch.

 

Mookjai unfolds the mulberry paper, revealing a 4-foot balloon connected to a bamboo frame. She lights the fuel cell, casting a beautiful golden hue on our faces. As we wait for the lantern to fill with hot air, she prays to Buddha, asking for a year of good health.

 

She tells me this ceremony helps her feel comforted and brings a sense of relief. She explains that it is hard walking around for an entire year with so much on your shoulders. It makes her feel heavy. Curiosity gets the best of me and I ask how many lanterns it takes to feel total relief.

 

“I release lanterns just enough for my sin,” Mookjai assures me, then explains that as the lanterns float higher and higher, she feels lighter and lighter. “I do not do too many, just enough for the year.”

 

Lanterns all around us begin standing straight up; it’s time for another mass release. Mookjai’s lantern is ready. She places my hand on the bamboo frame to feel its gentle tug. It’s ready to ascend. She whispers another prayer to Buddha and slowly releases the balloon.

 

We watch the beautiful lantern rise lazily, joining thousands of others in flight. They move as one in the dark sky, drifting higher and higher. When a wind current whisks the glowing mass away, we are left standing there, engulfed in darkness and empty-handed.

 

“I still feel heavy,” Mookjai sighs. “One is not enough.”

 

She bends down and fumbles in the dark, searching for another lantern.
This reminds me of the Day of Atonement where the Jews would gather and watch as the High Priest went in once a year to make an acceptable sacrifice to cover the sin of the nation for a year, as they waited for the Messiah.

 

Thailand needs to know of the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.  They don’t need lanterns and fireworks, they need Jesus.

 

Pray for the people of Thailand, that God would open their eyes, and turn them from darkness to light.

 

You can see toward the end of our video below, some of this ceremony.

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Original Article here


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